Kelley (co-production with Court Theatre) + It's a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago by the American Blues Theater Ensemble Yankee Tavern by Steven Dietz Side Man by Warren Leight Season 30 (2015–16) The Rainmaker by N. Richard Nash It's a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago! by the American Blues Theater Ensemble Looking Over the President's Shoulder by James Still Little Shop of Horrors by Howard Ashman and Alan Menken Season 31 (2016–17) Dutchman by Amiri Baraka & TRANSit by Darren Canady + It's a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago by the American Blues Theater Ensemble The Columnist by David Auburn Season 32 (2017–18) Beauty's Daughter by Dael Orlandersmith It's a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago by the American Blues Theater Ensemble Six Corners by Keith Huff + Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story by Alan James Season 33 (2018–19) Flyin' West by Pearl Cleage It's a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago by the American Blues Theater Ensemble On Clover Road by Steven Dietz The Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelkey by Celeste Lecesne The Spitfire Grill by James Valeq & Fred Alley Season 34 (2019–20) Five Presidents by Rick Cleveland It's a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago by the American Blues Theater Ensemble Roan @ The Gates by Christina Telesca Season 35 (2020–21) It's a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago by the American Blues Theater Ensemble (live interactive show on Zoom) Season 36 (2021–22) It's a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago by the American Blues Theater Ensemble Stand Up If You're Here Tonight by John Kolvenbach Season 37 (2022–23) Fences by August Wilson Alma by Benjamin Benne + It's a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago by the American Blues Theater Ensemble Blue Ink Award for playwriting American Blues Theater’s nationally-renowned Blue Ink Award for playwriting was created in 2010 to support new work. Each year the theater accepts worldwide submissions of original, unpublished full-length plays. The winning play is selected by the Artistic Director and the theater’s Ensemble. Since inception, 12 Award winners, 112 finalists, and 171 semi-finalists have been named. Recent winners include: 2022 – The Reapers on Woodbrook Avenue by Mardee Bennett 2021 – Refugee Rhapsody by Yussef El Guindi 2020 – Recent Unsettling Events by Andrea Stolowitz 2019 – Alma by Benjamin Benne | world premiere American Blues Theater, Chicago, 2022; Center Theater Group, L.A., 2022 2018 – Welcome to Matteson! by Inda Craig-Galván 2017 – Hype Man